​The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended the opening ceremony of the first batch of the training programme for the seventh-term District Council (DC) members at the Shanghai Administration Institute today (July 13). She encouraged members of the Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long DCs participating in the training to study diligently with a view to providing better services to the people.
​The opening ceremony was administered by the Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Administration Institute, Mr Zeng Jun. Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Wang Linggui, and Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Mr Hua Yuan attended. Mr Hua welcomed DC members in joining the training programme and introduced the latest developments in Shanghai's economy, co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as grassroots governance in Shanghai. Mr Wang said that the Central Government is satisfied with the work of the seventh-term DCs since their taking of office, and urged DC members to continue to keep up the good work in the districts, assisting the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in implementing its policies. Mr Wang hoped DC members could further deepen their understanding of Shanghai, and put forward four expectations of DC members, including reminding them to continuously harness a patriotic mindset, foster a mindset to serve the people, deepen mutual co-operation and learning between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and dedicate to embrace innovation, so to bring the people together in community building.
​Miss Mak said in her remarks that the seventh-term DCs were formed after the improvements to governance at the district level. DC members are charged with a responsibility of enhancing district governance, and should act with an unfailing sense of responsibility at all times and the assurance to deliver in everything they do. In order to enhance DC members' national awareness and understanding of district governance so as to enhance the capabilities in discharging their duties, the Government has arranged for the current-term DC members to undertake training and site visits in batches in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. The training programme will allow DC members to better understand national developments and experiences in district governance, so that they can put newly acquired knowledge into practice in their future work and better serve the country and Hong Kong. Miss Mak thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Administration Institute for organising the training programme for DC members.
​Mr Wang, Mr Hua and Miss Mak had a meeting subsequently. They exchanged views on the experiences in implementing measures related to district governance in Shanghai and Hong Kong and on how to strengthen collaborations between the two places.
Miss Mak will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (July 14). Members of the Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long DCs will continue their study and visit programme in Shanghai until July 16.
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